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March 19, 2017

posted Mar 17, 2017, 5:13 AM by Diane Lapinski

FROM THE PASTOR…..MY DEAR PARISH FAMILY, Once again our NORTHERN DEANERYPENANCE SERVICE SCHEDULE has been finalized. Please take a close look and see what Penance Services best suits your schedule as we continue our journey through Lent, through Holy Week to a wonderful Easter Sunday celebration.

Sunday, March 19 Holy Spirit, Lock Haven at 3:00 PM

Thursday, March 30 Most Holy Trinity, Huntingdon at 7:00 PM

Monday, April 3 St. Matthew, Tyrone at 7:00 PM

Tuesday, April 4 Good Shepherd, State College, with Bishop Mark at 7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 5 Queen of Archangels, Clarence at 7:00 PM

SUNDAY, APRIL 9 OUR LADY OF VICTORY at 2:00 PM

Tuesday, April 11 PSU, University Park at 7:00 PM

Just a couple of reminders with the above schedule: Fr. Antony and I will be attending all the Penance Services as a show of support to our neighboring parishes. Therefore we will not be around the rectory at those times. Also, please mark your calendars for our Penance Service. It is usually on Palm Sunday afternoon. We are hoping for the assistance of 13 priests, so waiting will not be all that long. Please plan to attend the service, pray together with our community of faithful, and receive the sacrament with you parish family. Sunday, April 9 will be the last scheduled penance service at OLV.

Next Saturday at 10:30 our First Communion Class will celebrate the SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION for their first time. I am sure it might be a nervous time for some of them and so I ask you if you could just say a prayer for them as they prepare to experience the Lord’s forgiveness through this sacrament.

PLEASE NOTE: OUR REGULAR SATURDAY CONFESSIONS AT 9:45 WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF FIRST PENANCE (10:30). I WILL HAVE EXTRA PRIESTS WHO WILL BE HEARING THE CONFESSIONS OF THE ADULTS PRESENT WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST CONFESSION.

In anticipation of the EASTER VIGIL, I would like to ask many parishioners to see if they could plan to attend this wonderful celebration of the Easter sacraments for our Elect and candidates. So often I hear that since it is a bit longer, many do not want to attend. Yes, it is a bit longer, but it is the most beautiful and meaningful Mass that the church celebrates all year. It will begin at 8:30 PM and probably will take about 1 ½ hours. But the beauty and meaning found within the Vigil surpasses all time. Not only that, your presence at the Vigil will be a wonderful show of support for our Elect and candidates. Please mark it on your calendars, take off your watches when you come and just enjoy celebrating this wonderful Vigil with your parish family. And by the way, the time for the Eater Vigil is set by the Diocese. All churches in the Diocese will begin their Vigil at the same time. I say this because there are still some people who come expecting a Mass at 4:00 (our usual time on Saturday) and end up disappointed.

HUMOR FOR THE WEEK - MORE BULLETIN BLOOPERS:

·For the word of God is quick and powerful...piercing even to the dividing asunder of soup and spirit.